Live Review: CW Stoneking

CW Stoneking is a one of a kind. With a soul born of yesteryear, his particular take on blues is imbued with his upbringing in remote Australia. His unassuming manner belies just how comfortable he stands on the Opera House stage. He is a born entertainer, naturally charming the world with his mumblings and wit. Throw into the mix the special guest appearance of Kitty and Daisy of Kitty, Daisy and Lewis fame, and the night flew by in a whirl of trad country blues talent.

Known as the Jungle Man by many (in fact Lanie Lane wrote her song of that name about CW), his songs with jungle themes has continued throughout his career, with the latest manifesting on the new track, I'm The Jungle Man. He describes the old favourite, Jungle King, as the dumbest thing he's ever written and yet the Jungle Man alter ego remains.

It'd been a year since CW had been on stage and without his usual rig, which had been deliberately left on a ship, things were different. The banjo had been replaced by a golden electric guitar, making it a shinier version of the usually gritty CW magic, but it suited the prestigious venue. Another new track, Good Luck Charm, had everyone bouncing in their seats, while We Gonna Boogaloo sustained the clapalong.

Downbeat numbers such as Bad Luck Everywhere You Go from King Hokum did little to quell the excitement of an appreciative audience. The encore of the call and response Them Good Old Cabbage Greens was sung with gusto, and the applause for the Bread Baker duet with Kitty was deafening.

It's difficult to describe CW to people who have never heard him. Vocally the closest comparison is Tom Waits' cloudy ramblings to clear bellowings. But he delivers more than Waits; he has a charm and an everyman approachability that is uniquely Australian. His understanding of music history, or more accurately music folklore, translates easily into blues, country and calypso. He is a phenomenal talent of whom Australians should be most proud.